(03-29-2021, 10:00 PM)Bullseye Wrote:

(03-29-2021, 09:22 PM)TheDuke007 Wrote: I've always believed the best way to turn around a team fast is to turn your weaknesses into strengths.  That means assuming equal value, you take the biggest need.  In the draft, you don't select "offense" or "defense", you draft a specific position.  If the position of biggest need is defense, you don't pass on it to take a lesser need on offense.  In our case, I see our biggest need positions as:

Quarterback
Offensive Tackle
Tight End
Free Safety
Edge

I don't agree with those that put wide receiver super high on the list.  We signed a good receiver in Marvin Jones.  D.J. Chark is one year removed from a pro-bowl.  Shenault was a very promising rookie last year and even rookie Collin Johnson showed potential.  I think the rookies will improve with experience and all returning players will look much better with improved quarterback play.  I know it's a good draft for receivers, so if it's a value thing, that's fine, but I don't have it in our top 5 needs.

I also hope that running back isn't one of those "weapons" that are drafted with any of our first five picks.  We already have a good one in James Robinson.  He played at a near pro-bowl level last year as a rookie.  I want a complimentary speedy running back, but that can be found in the fourth round or later.

There is a school of thought that you can build on strength to improve your team.  The 1984 Giants already had a great set of LBs in a 3-4 with Lawrence Taylor and Harry Carson.  But with their top 5 draft pick, they added LB Carl Banks.  Now the Minnesota Vikings were already a playoff team (though not a dominant one) with good WRs when they added WR Randy Moss in 1998.

That said, I generally agree with your overall philosophy here, again assuming equal grades for all of the players involved.

I will say that Meyer has repeatedly expressed a desire to add more speed at WR and maybe RB, so it would not be a shock to see the team add at least one of each in the draft.  In fact, lately I'm getting the sneaky suspicion Travis Etienne is on the radar at 25-33.

I'm sure there are cases where a team building on strength worked out well for them, but I also suspect it was mostly cases where they got excellent value.  If there's a sure-fire future hall of famer at #25, I take him regardless of position (except maybe special teams).  If there's roughly equal value, I go with need.  If there's a significant difference in value and it's not a need, I also look to trade that pick.

In regards to drafting WR and maybe RB early, I agree with you.  I wouldn't take that approach, but it wouldn't surprise me if the Jaguars did.  Meyer has expressed a desire for more speed.  I also know O-zone is a tool, but he has good access to the Jaguars and sometimes has inside information.  He's clearly trying to prepare readers in advance for the possibility of the Jaguars drafting a running back early which he knows will be unpopular with some fans. My guess is he knows that Meyer is taking a strong look at the top rated running backs in the upcoming draft.

---